2023 Volkl Blaze 86

The 2023 Volkl Blaze 86 is a fun-loving ski that has a whole lot going on for not a lot of weight. These skis are wonderfully poised and aimed at the all-mountain market, and at a variety of skiers. At 86 mm underfoot, these skis are on the narrow side of the spectrum in terms of freeride, but the fact that they have both a resort and backcountry pedigree means that they have a higher-performing ceiling. Built with a hybrid multi-layer wood core and suspension in the tips and tails, these skis are pretty darn light and quick, and that’s one of the things that our testers like the most.

Matt McGinnis skied the 173 and felt that it skied a touch long, but he’s mostly on slightly longer skis. He gave a top score of 5 out of 5 for forgiveness, with 4’s running the rest of the table except for a lone 3 for flotation. Certainly this 86 isn’t going to have the same floaty feeling as the wider 94 or 106 when it comes to the surface area. Matt notes that “Just before skiing the Blaze 86, I skied the Deacon 80. While the Deacon 80 strongly preferred edge engagement and speed, the Blaze 86 had a distinctly freeride personality. To be clear, the Blaze 86 performed admirably at speed and on edge. That said, it was far more willing to be flexible with your input. Capable of shutting down in an instant, a key characteristic for judging ging slashability, these skis are far more forgiving than the Deacon 80. As such, the Blaze 86 is a great choice for a range of skiers, from intermediate to advanced, who want a ski that’s there for them at speed, but also comfortable being milder in low energy situations. For skiers looking for a mid-80’s ski with freeride tendencies, the Blaze 86 would be a solid choice.” The ability of the Blaze 86 to turn on a dime is one of its best personality traits for sure.

Devin Frye-O'Neill also skied the 173, and he noted that it felt a little short. Regardless, he had a bunch of 4’s on his scorecard for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, forgiveness, versatility, and overall impression. 3’s for flotation, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold keeps the baseline score of the ski pretty high for a light, wood core 86. Devin notes that the Blaze 86 does “Fun, quick, and slashing turns. Held a pretty decent edge on hard stuff and was very maneuverable in softer stuff. Due to the weight and the length, it didn’t want to go too fast.” At some point, that light core and lack of metal will make the ski susceptible to more aggressive skiing leading to some chatter.

The versatility of the ski is its standout trait, though, and most skiers will see this as an enormous asset. Because of the quickness and agility, progressing beginners will find a high-quality ski to step into, and anyone from intermediate all the way to expert skiers will find a whole lot to like about this ski.